Wave guide switch



Marh s, 1958 MM. RoBlsoN r-:rAL 2,327,513

WAVE GUIDE 'SWITCH Filed July 28, 1954v LE; 2 /32 j! /10 .zz mjz JZYZ/ sa 39"" 5@ 2473 /13 -`Z$ lwwll Si il" da l l l I [l V d M WAVE G Urnn SWITCH Morris 'Moses Robison and Lawrence `L. Lodge, Columbus, Ohio; said Robison assignor to Thompson P roducts, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of lGino Application July 28, 1954, Serial No. 480,818

(Filed under Rule 47 (a) and 35 U. S. C. 1'16) 3 Claims. (Cl. S33-98) The invention relates to a wave guide switch and more particularly to an efficient, reliable and simply .and economically constructed wave guide .switch by which Aone Wave guide for the transmission of ultra-high ffre- ,quency ,electromagnetic energy may `be selectively conducted to one of two or more .other wave guides with a minimum of energy loss and with a minimum of ,discontinuity between the guides.

ln the wave guide switch of this invention, .a housing defines a ypair of facing divergently related surfaces and .a switch element is selectively movable between positions respectively cooperating with such .divergently related surfaces to define alternative wave transmission paths. To `simplify construction, the switch element may lpreferably have one `surface portion `cooperating with one of the :divergent surfaces to define one transmission path in Aone position of the element and another surface portion .cooperating with the other of the divergent surfaces to define an .alternative transmission path. Most preferably, such other surface portion of the switch element forms a smooth continuation of such yone of the diver-gent surfaces in the one position of the element yand such one ,surface portion `of the element similarly forms a smooth continuation of such other of the divergent surfaces .of the housing in the other position of the switch element.

According to a specific feature of the invention, the surface portions of the switch element are converged to a sharp edge selectively engageable with opposed portions of divergent surfaces of the housing so as to achieve 1a smooth transition. Most preferably, the edge may be slightly resilient so as to obtain good electrical Contact.

The direction of transmission of energy mushof course, be changed in at least one of the alternative wave transmission paths. According to a further feature Vof the invention, at least one of the divergent surfaces of the housing is convexly curved and the cooperating surface portion of the switch element is concavely lcurved in complementary relation so as 'to introduce minimum discontinuity in the transmission of energy over a wide range of frequencies. Preferably, both of the diverge-nt surfaces of the housing are convexly curved and both convergent surfaces of the switch elements are concavely curved so las to provide a symmetrical construction.

According to still another feature of the invention, v,the switch element is ,movable rectilinearly. Preferably, the divergently related surfaces of the Yhousing are divergent from first portions in closely spaced facing .relation to second portions spaced agreater distance apart .and the housing also defines a pair of `surface Aportions in closely spaced vrelation to such second portions of the divergent surfaces and a plane lsurface portion between `such pair of .surface portions. 'The switch element Yhas a plane surface portion slidable over the plane surface portion of the housing and has a pair of surface portions -re -spectively arranged to form smooth continuations of Ythe v.pair of surface portions .of the housing as the element is moved between `first and second positions. T-he plane surface portion of the housing may form a continuation of `at least one, and preferably both, of the surface portions of the housing that are disposed in spaced facing relation to the spaced apart portions of the divergent surfaces above referred to. In this case, the divergent surfaces of the housing may `extend in an are of According to a specific feature ofthe invention, the plane surface of the rectilinearly lmovable switch lelement may be resiliently urged into pressure engagement with the plane surface of the housing Vsoas to achieve `good electrical contact.

Still another feature of the invention is in .the provision of actuating means for the switch element arranged for resiliently urging the element into either of its t-wo alternative positions. The provision of such actuating means is particularly advantageous in the case wherein the surface portions of the switch element are converged to the resilient edge ,selectively engageable with the facing divergent surfaces of the housing.

According :toa further specific feature of the invention, such actuating means may comprise an actuating lever .having ia slot therein with va .pin resiliently carried by a shaft and l,extending into the slot, means being provided for rotating theshaft for resiliently urging the lever selec- :tively into either .of its two operative positions. The resilient support .of the pin may preferably comprise a wheel having va recessed end face defining a radially inwardly facing cylindrical'wall with an arm Vpivoted within such recess carrying :the pin and Vwith compression lspring V.means acting on the arm yto lmove the arm against the l sides .of a line through the pivot axis of the lever and the axis vof the shaft or wheel to position the lever in Y either .of its two operative positions.

With this arrangement, the behavior of the actuator mechanism is rendered uncritical because of the take-up provided by the resiliently supported pin.

An object of this invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved Wave guide switch.

Another object'of this invention is to provide an irnproved wave guide switch including a housing defining a pair Vof facing divergently related vsurfaces with a switch element selectively movable between positions Yrcspectively cooperating with such sur-faces to ydefine alternative wave transmission paths.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wave guide switch including a switch element having oppositely facing surfaces converged'to van edge. Y

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved wave guide switch including convexly and concat/ely curved cooperating surfaces to minimize discontinuities.

A .still further object of this invention is to provide an improved wave guide switch including a rectilinearly movable switch element.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved wave guide switch including arectilinearly movable switch element having a plane surface resiliently urged against and slidable over a plane surface portion of a housing of the switch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide limproved actuating mechanism for a wave guide switch or the like.

This invention contemplates other and more specific Objects, features ,and advantages which will become more fully apparent from the following detailed ldescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a wave guide switch lconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

including aY main bodyY portion 11 and cover anges 12,

13'and 14 secured to the body portion 11Y and providing means for connecting the switchY to wave guides. A wave guide-connectedrto the cover ange'14 may be selectively connected to wave guides connected to the cover flanges 12 and 13 through the structure `of the wave guide switch of this invention.

The switch housing dennes internalsurfacesgenerally i designatedbyreference numerals 15 and 16 which may be divergentfromV portions 17 and 18 in closely spaced parallel relation to portions Y19 and 20 spaced apart a considerable distance.Y In accordance with the features of this inventionpat least V'one and preferably both of the divergent surfaces 15 vand'16 are convexly curved and extend in an arcV of 90 so'that the portions 19 and'20 may vbe in the same plane.

VA switch element 21 hasY oppositely facing surface porj tions 22 and 23. In the position of the element 21 illustrated, the surface portion 23 thereof cooperates with the divergent surface. 16 of the switch housingto define one wave transmission path. The switch element 21 is movable to an alternative position in which the surfaceY portion 22 thereof cooperates with the surface 15 of theY switch housing to denne an alternative wave transmission j path.' In'accordance with the featuresof this invention,

as discussed heretofore, the surface portions 22 and 23 may be concavely curved and may each extend in an arc of approximately 90.` In the position of the switch element 21 illustrated,.the surface 23 preferably forms a smootlrcontinuation ,of the .portion 17 of the surface 15 while in the alternative positionV of the switch element 21, the surface portion 22thereof forms a smooth con- V16 engaged by the element 21 adjacent the edge 24 may preferably be ground flat so asy to insure good electrical contact. Y Y i The switch housing may deine surface portions 25 and 26 n1 spaced facing relation tothe portions 19 and 20 of .the divergent surfaces 15 Yand 16 and a plane surface 27 between the surfaceV portions 25 and 26. The switch A element 21 may have a plane surface 28 in slidable engagement with the plane surface 27 of the housing, the switch element 21 being-,movable between a position as illustrated in which the surface portion 23 forms a smooth continuation of the surface portion 26 and an alternative position in `which the surface portion 22 ofthe element forms a smooth continuation of the surface portionV 25 Yof the housing. Most preferably, the surface portions 25, 26 and 27 of the housing are located in the same plane. A, 4In .the construction ofthe switch-10, fthe surfaces 27 and 28 are preferably Yvery Yaccurately groundrplanerso as to insure good electricalV contact between the switch element 21 andthe housing and soy as tothereby minimize any discontinuity in the wave transmission paths.

' In accordance with a specific feature of the invention, thelsurface 28 of the Yswitchelement is resiliently engaged with the plane" surface 27 of the switch housing.

of the switch element 21 between its alternative positions For this purpose, a stud bolt member 29Y may `,be threaded or otherwise secured to the'switch element 21 and may project outwardlyV through a Yslot 341 intoV a recess 31 element 32 may have a central aperture receiving the bolt 29 and legs 33 and 34 in resilient sliding engagement with the outwardly facing surface of the recess 31. To transmit the upwardly directed force of the spring 32 to the bolt 29 Yand the switch element 21, a pair of nuts 35 and 36 are threaded. on the bolt 29 above the leaf Vspring element 32, the position of the nuts 35 and 36 being adjustable to control the upward pressure exerted on the bolt 29 and the switch element 21. M

It should Vbe noted that the transmission paths may preferably be of generally rectangular cross-section and for this purpose the housing defined by the body portion 11 and the cover flanges 12, 13 and 14 may deiine facing surfaces 37 and 38 in spaced parallel planes transverse to thersurfaces 15, 16,22, 23. The surfaces 37 and 38 may be referred to as top and bottom internal surfaces but it willnbe understood that the switch may be `disposed in any desired position. Y, Y A

By way of illustrative example, the spacing between the surfaces 37 and 38 may be 11/2 inches and the spacing between the surfaces 17 and 18 may be B1 inch which, 0f course, is equal to the spacing between surface portions 19, 25, surface portions 20,V 26, surfaces 16, 23 in the position of switch element 21 illustrated, or between 15 and 22 in the alternative position of the switch element 21. With these `dimensions and with a proportionate radius of bend of the paths as illustrated, the switch 10 is operable over a frequency range of 5,850 to 8,200 megacycles with a voltage standingwave ratio of less than 1.05.` f

To actuate the `switch element 21, an actuating mechavnism generally designated by reference numeral 39 is mounted on a support flange 40 affixed to one side of the main body portion 11 ofthe switch housing. The actuating mechanism V39 includes Ya lever 41 having one end 42 projecting into a slot 43 in the main body portion 11 of the switch housing, the lever 41 being pivoted within'the slot 43 on a vertically extending lscrew 44. The end 42 of the lever 41 has a bifurcated end portion receiving the stud bolt 29 to eect rectilinear movement with movement ofthe lever 41 about the axis of the screw 44. Y

The other end of the lever 41 hasV a radially extending slot 45Y receiving a pin 46 which is carried from a shaft 47 through a wheel 48.V An electric actuating motor V48aV (the lower end of Vwhich appears in Figure 2)Y is To control stopping of the` actuating motor 48, a pair of micro-switches'49 and 50'are mounted on the support flange 40 on Vopposite sides of the wheel 48 and have actuating arms 51 and 52, respectively, which support rollers `53'artd 54, respectively, arranged to be engaged by a cam member S5 projecting from the periphery Y of the wheel 48. v

A. further/.feature Vof the actuatingY mechanism 39 is in the support of the pin 46 from the shaft 47. Accord- -ing to thisr feature, lthe wheel V48 may havea recessed upper end face defining afr'adiallyV inwardly facing cylindrical wall 56. The pin'46 is aixed to an arm 57 which is supported within Ysuch recess by-means of a pin 58. The arm '5,7 is urged in toY Yengagement with the wall 56 by means 'vof a helical ,compressionY spring 59'acting betweenthe end of the arm 57 and a bracket 60 secured within the'recess inV theend face of the wheel 48. With this arrangement, the pin 46 is Vurged( radially outwardly and is movableA radially inwardly toward the axisrof the shaft 47 Aagainst, the force of the. spring 59.` As'lrleretpfore pointed out, thisresilient support of the pin 46 'is asevera highly advantageous because the behavior of the actuating mechanism 39 is rendered uncritical and the wheel 48 need not be accurately stopped, but reasonable amounts of overshoot may be tolerated.

It will accordingly be apparent that this invention provides an eicient, reliable and simply and economically manufacturable wave guide switch by which one wave guide may be selectively connected to either of two other wave guides with a minimum of energy loss and with a minimum of discontinuity between the guides.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wave guide switch, a housing including first and second aligned rectangular openings having si-de walls lying in common planes and a third rectangular opening having side walls lying in planes transverse to said common planes, said housing having a pair of convexly curved internal surfaces extending symmetrically from said side walls of said third opening to side walls of said rst and second openings and having a planar internal surface interconnecting the other side walls of said first and second openings, and a switch element slidably engaged with and shiftable in a direction parallel to said planar surface and having a pair of concavely curved external surfaces converged from a pair of edge portions adjacent said planar surface to a sharp edge portion located between and selectively engageable with said side walls of said third opening, said housing having top and bottom internal planar surfaces interconnecting said side walls of said openings, said convexly and concavely curved surfaces being in facing relation to dene wave transmission paths between said third opening and said first and second openings, the curvatures of and spacings between said convexly and concavely curved surfaces being such as to provide a smooth transmission of high frequency energy through said paths and between said third opening and said first and second openingsin the extreme positions of shiftable movement of said switch element.

2. In a wave guide switch, a housing including first and second aligned rectangular openings having side walls lying in common planes and a third rectangular opening having side walls lying in planes transverse to said common planes, said housing having a pair of convexly curved internal surfaces extending symmetrically from said side walls of said third opening to side walls of said first and second openings and having a planar internal surface interconnecting the other side walls of said rst and second openings, a switch element slidably engaged with and shiftable in a direction parallel to said planar surface and having a pair of concavely curved external surfaces converged from a pair of edge portions adjacent said planar surface to a sharp edge portion located be- `tween and selectively engageable with said side walls of said third opening, said housing having top and bottom internal planar surfaces interconnecting said side walls of said openings, said convexly and concavely curved surfaces being in facing relation to dene wave transmission paths between said third opening and said lrst and second openings, the curvatures of and spacings between said convexly and concavely curved surfaces being such as to provide a smooth transmission of high frequency energy through said paths and between said third opening and said rst and second openings in the extreme positions of shiftable movement of said switch element, and actuating means for shifting said switch element between said extreme positions of movement, said actuating means including means for resiliently urging said sharp edge portion against either of said side walls of said third opening with a certain force to minimize cross-talk.

3. In a wave guide switch, a housing including rst and second aligned rectangular openings having side walls lying in common planes and a third rectangular opening having side walls lying in planes transverse to said com` mon planes, said housing having a pair of convexly curved internal surfaces extending symmetrically om said side walls of said third opening to side walls of said rst and second openings and having a planar internal surface interconnecting the other side walls of said rst and second openings, a switch element slidably engaged with and shiftable in a direction parallel to said planar surface and having a pair of concavely curved external surfaces converged from a pair of edge portions adjacent said planar surface to a sharp edge portion located between and selectively engageable with said side walls of said third opening, said housing having top and bottom internal planar surfaces interconnecting said side Walls of said openings, said convexly and concavely curved surfaces being in facing relation to define wave transmission paths between said third opening and said first and second openings, the curvatures of and spacings between said convexly and concavely curved surfaces being such as to provide a smooth transmission of high frequency energy through said paths and between said third opening and said irst and second openings in the extreme positions of shiftable movement of said switch element, a pivoted actuating lever connected to said switch element and having a radially extending slot, a pin in said slot, a shaft carrying said pin and rotatable for selectively positioning said pin on opposite sides of a line through the pivot axis of said lever and the axis of said shaft for positioning said lever in either of two operative positions and moving said switch element into either of said extreme positions, and resilient means urging said pin radially outwardly to resiliently urge said lever into either of said operative positions.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,423,397 Loumiet July 1, 1947 2,451,876 Salisbury Oct. 19, 1948 2,588,934 Miller Mar. 11, 1952 2,602,893 Ratlit July 8, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Ragan: Microwave Transmission Circuits, vol. 9, M. I. T. Radiation Lab. Series, McGraw-Hill, 1948; page 526 relied on. 

